Chancellor Russell T. Perkins listens to attorneys arguments during a records hearing about the Vanderbilt rape case on March 10, 2014, in Nashville. / George Walker IV / File / The Tennessean

Written by

A Davidson County Chancery Court judge did not rule today in The Tennesseanís lawsuit against Metro government over access to records in a Vanderbilt University rape case.

Judge Russell Perkins had said at a hearing Monday that he planned to issue a written opinion today, but he wasnít able to finish it by the close of business. The ruling is now expected Wednesday.

The Tennessean led a statewide coalition of news organizations that sued Metro last month over its refusal to release third-party records from the rape investigation, which led to charges against four former Vanderbilt football players. The lawsuit said records created by nongovernmental entities and obtained by the Metro Police Department since the June 23 incident, including text messages between players and coaches, should be available for public inspection.

Perkins did issue an order Tuesday saying he has jurisdiction in the case. Metro and the state attorney generalís office had argued that Davidson County Criminal Court, where the former football players will stand trial, would be the proper court for the records case.